(Aş Şakhīr) Visa Cash App RB driver Daniel Ricciardo surprised everyone by setting the best time in the first free practice session of the season, Thursday morning, at the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Ricciardo recorded a time of one minute and 32.869 seconds under sunny skies at the Sakhir International Circuit, shaving 32 thousandths of a second off McLaren driver Lando Norris’ time. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, took third place, 0.244 seconds behind the Australian.
Spaniard Fernando Alonso was fifth fastest in his Aston Martin, just ahead of three-time reigning F1 champion Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who finished 0.369 seconds behind Ricciardo.
George Russell (Mercedes), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) followed in seventh, eighth and ninth, in order.
Quebecer Lance Stroll, at the wheel of his Astron Martin, settled for 14e time, 0.999 seconds behind Ricciardo.
A second free practice session will take place a little later on Thursday. A third free practice session will take place on Friday morning, and will be followed by the qualifying session. The Bahrain Grand Prix will be presented on Saturday.
Red Bull is more united than ever
A little earlier Thursday, Christian Horner appeared at the side of the track, the day after the decision of the parent company of the Red Bull team not to uphold the complaint for misconduct which had been made against him.
PHOTO DARKO BANDIC, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Christian Horner
Horner remained at Red Bull during the internal investigation, and he said the champion F1 team had never been more united heading into a new campaign.
“I’m very happy that this is over,” Horner told British broadcaster Sky Sports News. I cannot comment on the matter, but we are here today for a Grand Prix and for the start of the season, and because we will try to defend our two titles (those of drivers’ and constructors’ champions). »
Asked if the team was on the same wavelength, he replied: “We have never been so united within this team”.
Horner was seen walking around the paddocks on Thursday with some key Red Bull players, including Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s chief technology officer, and weighed in on instructions given to drivers on track.
Verstappen, who has won the last three F1 world championships, said after the first test session that the car was “worlds away” from what it was during winter testing.
The 50-year-old has been Red Bull’s boss since it entered motorsport’s premier series in 2005. He has led the team to six constructors’ championships and seven more drivers’ championships.
Red Bull won four consecutive world championships with Sebastian Vettel between 2010 and 2013, and three more with Verstappen since 2021.
Horner has been married since 2015 to Geri Halliwell, who was once called “Ginger Spice” and who was part of the legendary British pop group The Spice Girls.